Maths and Further Maths

A Level

Maths has many facets; it is not just about learning formulae and being able to do arithmetic. We constantly strive to inspire you to look beyond the classroom tasks to wider applications and to see where a career in Maths might lead you. Maths can be intriguing, challenging, puzzling and baffling, but also very satisfying and enjoyable. It is quite different from other subjects but it is highly valued by universities and employers. Arguably it is the most versatile subject and unquestionably it is the subject the most in demand as a prerequisite for degree courses.

Course Overview

A Level Maths is a course designed to develop advanced thinking skills in the areas of mathematical argument and proof, problem solving and modelling real world situations. This is achieved in the context of various areas of traditional pure mathematics as well as from a statistical and mechanics point of view. Examples of topics in each area are:

At the end of the second year students will sit three 2 hour papers of equal weighting:

Paper 1 Pure mathematics.

Paper 2 Pure mathematics and mechanics.

Paper 3 Pure mathematics and statistics.

A Level Further Maths

Those with a real passion, thirst and aptitude for mathematics may consider the Further Maths A Level. A Level Maths is completed in one year, by having double the normal number of lessons. Further Maths develops your mathematical abilities by building and extending what you have learnt already. The course has the same overarching skill developments of mathematical argument and proof, problem solving and modelling real world situations, however it is set in the context of more advanced pure mathematics. To compliment this A Level Further Mathematics also involves the further study of two applied areas from mechanics, statistics and discrete mathematics. By the time we come to study these areas in the second year you will have developed a good understanding of the strengths and weaknesses of any further maths group we teach as well as knowing in which path you will be following at university. We will use this knowledge to identify which of the two applied modules to teach so as to best equip our students for future success.

At the end of the second year students will sit three 2 hour papers of equal weighting:

Paper 1 assess only further pure mathematics

Paper 2 assess only further pure mathematics

Paper 3 is made of two equal sized exam booklets one from each of either further statistics, further mechanics or discrete mathematics.

Special Features

The Maths Faculty has great strength and depth of experience and expertise, decades of cumulative teaching experience from around the world and teachers with graduate level specialisms in statistics, mechanics and pure mathematics.

Progression

Maths is essential for courses in engineering and physics and very useful for many science-based courses which deal with statistical analysis. It is also one of the subjects welcomed by Admissions Tutors for any subject requiring an ability to think logically.

Last year, A Level Maths students progressed onto a wide range of degree programmes including –